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One of the first steps in buying a house is figuring out your finances. Buying a home typically requires a mortgage, where a lender fronts you the money and you pay them back over time. However, to get a mortgage, you'll need a down payment. The amount you need can vary, but typically ranges from 3-20% of the home's price. In addition to having a down payment, you'll need a decent credit score. This three-digit number is a numerical summary of your credit report, which details how well you've paid off past debts. Lenders use this information to determine whether to loan you money, how much, and at what interest rate.
Once you know your budget and have an agent, it's time to start house hunting. You can browse thousands of real estate listings online, then ask your agent to set up appointments to see your favorites in person.
Once you've found your dream home, it's time to make an offer. Your agent can guide you through this process, which involves writing a check to the seller for earnest money, which is different than your down payment.
A home inspection is where you hire a home inspector to check out the house from top to bottom to determine if there are any problems with it that might make you think twice about moving forward. Your agent can help you choose which inspections most benefit you. Additionally, Even if you got pre-approved for your home loan, your lender will want to conduct a home appraisal. This is where the lender checks out the house to make sure it's a good investment.
Closing is when you officially get the keys to your new home and pay all the various parties involved. That will include your down payment for your loan, plus closing costs, the extra fees you pay to process your loan.
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